Extracurricular services are regarded as essential services in school system. Studies suggest that access to the services lead to students' academic success. Literature shows that the use of qualitative approach to investigate extracurricular services is limited. In view of the foregoing, this study examined the perceived influence of extracurricular services on students' academic achievement in secondary schools. Twenty (20) principals were selected from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State using stratified, purposive and convenience sampling techniques. Instruments used include interview and observation methods to collect relevant data from the participants. Specifically, observation method was used to complement findings from interview. Our findings reveal that extracurricular services influenced students' academic achievement. Our findings revealed also that inadequate availability of extracurricular facilities and personnel are the factors militating against effective provision of extracurricular services. This study recommends that adequate extracurricular facilities (football pitch, volleyball court, hall for social activities, etc.) should be available in schools. Lastly, adequate extracurricular services personnel should be deployed to schools to ensure active participation of students in various activities.

Contribution/ Originality: This study is one of the few studies which has investigated the effects of preschool teachers' education on their classroom practices and career paths in Peninsular Malaysia. It is hoped that this study will act as a guide to the Ministry of Education to enhance preschool teachers' knowledge and skills on their best practices. INTRODUCTIONThe Childcare Centre Act 1984 in Malaysia requires a minimum standard for childcare centres in order to provide care and education to preschool children (School Malaysia, 2017). This was followed by Childcare Centres Amendment Act 2007 which brought about the emergence of various childcare centres such as the government supported community childcare centres, subsidized workplace childcare centres, institution based child care centres and home-based childcare centres. The National Education Acts 1996 and 2005 officially declared that preschool is a part of the national school system. As such, all public and private preschools are required to follow the National

<p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;">The common problems of learners that contribute to absenteeism in school include malaria,<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> cough/catarrh, typhoid, headache and stomach ache. This led to the formulation of national<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> school health policy in Nigeria to promote health services in schools. In view of the foregoing,<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> this study assesses principals’ perception of health services in secondary schools. The study<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> population consists of 551 principals of secondary schools (public and private) in Kwara State,<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Nigeria. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to select 20 principals.<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> Instrument tagged “Interview Protocol on Health Services (IPHS)” was used to elicit data from<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> the participants. Data collected was transcribed and analysed via thematic approach. Findings<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> revealed that majority of the schools does not have school clinic to dispense health services to<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> learners. Our fidings also show that most of the schools lack health personnel and equipment.<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> This study concludes that comprehensive health services were not provided for learners. The study<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> recommends that the government should come up with policy statement on school health services<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> that will help to provide quality health services to the learners. Adequate budget should be made<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> by the government for the implementation of the policy. Lastly, the study provides practical and<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"> methodological contributions to the body of knowledge in the fild of education.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" /></span></p>

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No abstract

Students are often faced with numerous challenges, which can bring on stress, anxiety, depression or relationship problems with those around them. Because of the foregoing, this study examined the principals’ perception of guidance and counselling in secondary schools. The study population consist of all principals in secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. Non-probability sampling techniques (stratified, purposive and convenience) were employed to select 20 principals to participate in the study. An instrument titled “Interview Guide on Guidance and Counselling Services (IGGCS)” was used to collect relevant data from the principals while secondary data were obtained from the counselling department of the schools. Nvivo software (version 10) was used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that principals believe the provision of counselling services had a significant impact on student's academic achievement, even though most of the secondary schools do not have a good counselling unit, qualified counsellors, and counselling facilities. This study recommends that a well-equipped counselling unit should be available in schools. Only certified counsellors should be deployed to offer counselling services to students. Lastly, students should be sensitized and encouraged by the school on the need for them to go for counselling to solve their numerous challenges.